Do to abuses, shouldn't tenure be eliminated on college campuses?

Question

From Ward Churchill to the 88 Duke professors who publicly convicted and demonized an entire team without evidence and, as since has been proven, without cause, these and other "educators" spew filth to our young people without apology or fear of reprisal. Why should any job, especially one as important as teaching our children, be guaranteed, no matter what the employee does or says?

Answer 1

Tenure doesn't apply to those who seriously abuse it. I have known of several tenured professors who have lost jobs due to misbehavior, so this is no reason to eliminate it for others, not to mention that you are talking about two situations among thousands of universities in the U.S. The reason for tenure is to protect freedom of thought; otherwise, an administration could fire faculty simply because they disagree with the things they say or research, as is the case in many countries most of us do not admire. If we do not want universities simply to be an organ of propaganda, we need some mechanism to protect those with minority viewpoints. Overall, tenure seems to have been one of the better methods of accomplishing this.

You talk about educators "spewing filth". Are you sure you don't mean that you just don't agree with what they say? That is certainly the case with regard to Ward Churchill, and you clearly misunderstand the Duke situation. If professors were really using extreme profanity in the classroom, they could be fired for unprofessional behavior. That does NOT contradict tenure rules. Furthermore, in most controversial cases I've heard of, unlike in high school, students had a choice of whether to take classes from these people or not. Most of these sorts of situations have happened at large universities in which multiple sections of required classes, and alternate elective courses, were available to those who chose not to take courses from these particular professors. In most cases, students chose to continue taking the classes.

Answer 2

I know you are talking about college campuses but I am sure the same situations happen there that happen in high schools.

I know of at least three high schools in my area that do not renew contracts after the 2nd or 3rd year because they don't want teachers to get tenure. The amount paid goes up each year to a maximum number of years.

If it weren't for tenure every school would release the experienced teachers and try to keep younger inexperienced teachers to keep costs down.

The 77 year old professor at VT that was killed had a lot of experience and was probably costing the university a fortune. But I would much rather take his class than some guy that just finished his doctoral thesis.

Tenure allows for experienced teachers to keep jobs as long as they abide by the rules. Without tenure our education system will sink to below sea level.

Answer 3

I completely agree! Why are teachers, the educators of this world, given a guaranteed position!!? How does that promote them to continue their education and continue trying to improve their teaching skills? There are a few professors at my University who should not be there. There is one in particular who has attempted to commit suicide on campus multiple times, has gotten hundreds of bad reviews and continues to teach.. poorly. But, guess what?! Tenure! So the students have to keep on paying a bad professor to teach a mandatory class in order to graduate! It's just ridiculous!

Answer 4

Of course! All good jobs should be eliminated! Fulfillment should only be possible through inherited wealth! It's the natural order of things!